Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties helps launch new Educational Series for Seniors

March 18, 2010

SeniorBridge, a leading care management company that provides customized services to help people with complex chronic health conditions remain at home, recently announced a partnership with the Jewish Federation, a cultural and educational organization in Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties (JFLCC) and Jewish Family Services of Collier County (JFCC) to expand resources related to aging and caregiving.

To inaugurate the partnership, the organizations will offer a comprehensive discussion of healthcare planning and management called "Aging Today; Who's Aging? Not Me!" with Dr. Eric Rackow, a national authority on critical care medicine, complex care management and healthcare delivery systems.

The program will address research from the Florida Department of Health that shows Southwest Florida has some of the highest rates in the country of hospitalizations for chronic conditions including diabetes, congestive hear failure, stroke and respiratory diseases.

"As we age, we see an increasing prevalence of complex chronic conditions that have medical, financial and emotional implications on the fastest growing segment of our population," said Dr. Rackow, professor of medicine at the New York University School and CEO of SeniorBridge. "With awareness of these situations, we can navigate the healthcare system and ultimately take action for a healthier community."

The "Aging Today; Who's Aging? Not Me" program will be held on Thursday, March 25 from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Airport/ FGCU, located at 16410 Corporate Commerce Way at Alico Road in Fort Myers.

"We are proud to partner with SeniorBridge and Jewish Family Services of Collier County to initiate dialogue about coordinating care for our older community members," said Alan Isaacs, executive director of Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties. "Our first event together is expected to improve collaboration across county lines and ultimately provide more resources to more people."

SeniorBridge is a leading care management company with a 10-year heritage in helping people cope with the challenges of complex chronic illnesses such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson's disease and memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.